Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers indicate position or order: first, second, third, etc. In German, they function as adjectives and take adjective endings.
This lesson covers how to form and use ordinal numbers in German.
Explanation
Most ordinal numbers are formed by adding '-te' or '-ste' to the cardinal number: zweite (second), dritte (third), vierte (fourth), fünfte (fifth).
Numbers ending in '-t' or '-st' add '-e': erste (first), siebte (seventh), achte (eighth), neunte (ninth).
Ordinal numbers from 20 onwards add '-ste': zwanzigste (twentieth), einundzwanzigste (twenty-first).
Ordinal numbers take adjective endings based on gender, case, and article: 'der erste Tag' (the first day), 'die erste Woche' (the first week), 'das erste Buch' (the first book).
When used with dates, ordinal numbers are written with a period: 'der 1. Januar' (the 1st of January), 'am 15. Mai' (on the 15th of May).
Ordinal Numbers 1-20
| Cardinal | Ordinal | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| eins | erste | der erste Tag | the first day |
| zwei | zweite | die zweite Woche | the second week |
| drei | dritte | der dritte Monat | the third month |
| vier | vierte | die vierte Stunde | the fourth hour |
| fünf | fünfte | der fünfte Platz | the fifth place |
| sechs | sechste | die sechste Klasse | the sixth class |
| sieben | siebte | der siebte Tag | the seventh day |
| acht | achte | die achte Woche | the eighth week |
| neun | neunte | der neunte Monat | the ninth month |
| zehn | zehnte | die zehnte Stunde | the tenth hour |
| elf | elfte | der elfte Platz | the eleventh place |
| zwölf | zwölfte | die zwölfte Klasse | the twelfth class |
| dreizehn | dreizehnte | der dreizehnte Tag | the thirteenth day |
| vierzehn | vierzehnte | die vierzehnte Woche | the fourteenth week |
| fünfzehn | fünfzehnte | der fünfzehnte Monat | the fifteenth month |
| sechzehn | sechzehnte | die sechzehnte Stunde | the sixteenth hour |
| siebzehn | siebzehnte | der siebzehnte Platz | the seventeenth place |
| achtzehn | achtzehnte | die achtzehnte Klasse | the eighteenth class |
| neunzehn | neunzehnte | der neunzehnte Tag | the nineteenth day |
| zwanzig | zwanzigste | die zwanzigste Woche | the twentieth week |
Examples
Der erste Tag der Woche ist Montag.
The first day of the week is Monday.
Ich bin am 15. Mai geboren.
I was born on the 15th of May.
Das ist mein zweites Auto.
That is my second car.
Wir sind in der dritten Klasse.
We are in the third class.
Der zehnte Platz ist gut.
The tenth place is good.
Common Mistakes
der einste Tag
der erste Tag
The ordinal for 'eins' is 'erste', not 'einste'. Remember the special form 'erste'.
am 15 Mai
am 15. Mai
When writing dates, ordinal numbers are written with a period: '15.' not '15'.
der zweite Tag (when it should be declined)
des zweiten Tages
Ordinal numbers take adjective endings. In genitive, use 'des zweiten Tages' (of the second day).
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.